Committee Minutes
MINUTES/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 29, 1997 - 7:00 p.m.
Members present: Sande, Beyer.
1. Application from Westward Ho for special alcoholic beverage
permit for Pasta Party on the Prairie on August 23.
Robert Coons, Westward Ho, stated there were no changes in the application which had been presented. Capt. MacCarthy stated that the police department had no problem with the request. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve the application contingent upon police department review and signing of an indemnity and hold harmless agreement. Motion carried. (Comm. only)
2. Request for permission to hold block party and blocking of
street:
a) Franklin Avenue between S. 4th and 5th Sts. on August 16
There was no one present re. this matter. Committee noted that the since the block party going past 10:00 p.m. didn't see anything re. potential noise and asked Capt. MacCarthy to talk to contact person re. noise. Moved by Beyer and Sande to permit the block party as requested. Motion carried. (Comm. only)
3. Request from Bethel Lutheran Brethren Youth group for refund
of temporary restaurant fee.
A request had been submitted for refund of $65 fee for tem-porary restaurant license issued for April 12 and 13 at Eagles Arena. Moved by Beyer and Sande to authorize refund of the fee as requested. Motion carried. (Comm. only)
4. Request from UND College of Nursing, RAIN Program for exten-
sion of raffle permit to 12/15/97.
It was noted that extension was requested as they were not able to complete raffle because of the flood. Moved by Beyer and Sande to grant extension of the permit to December 15, 1997. Motion carried. (Comm. only)
5. Request to block street in front of civic auditorium on
September 11 and 12 during Grand Forks Grocery Food Show.
Bob Owens, civic auditorium, reported that the GF Grocery is holding their annual food show on September 12, that as the basement was flooded they are requesting to block the street from the entrance of parking lot adj. to civic auditorium to North 6th Street to place tent on street on September 11 and 12 for some of their activities, that event would be over by 5:00 on the 12th. He stated he has talked to police and fire departments. Capt. MacCarthy stated they didn't have problem with this. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve request. Motion carried.
6. Request for removal of parking to improve sight distance at
28th Avenue S. and S. 17th Street.
The traffic engineer was not present but had submitted written recommendation. Beyer stated there were a lot of apartment buildings their and would this create problem for them, however, it
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July 29, 1997 - Page 2
was noted that apartments are to provide off-street parking for their tenants. After some discussion it was moved by Beyer to accept traffic engineer's recommendation (if there were a problem to bring back) to remove parking 80 ft. north on the east side of South 17th Street and 80 ft. south on the west side of South 17th Street, measuring from the 28th Avenue South curbline, Sande seconded the motion. Motion carried.
7. Matter of grant agreement with ND Dept. of Health and Human
Services:
a) Cancer Prevention and Control grant agreement - $12,090
Don Shields, health department, reviewed grant agreement, that this is a new agreement for both breast and cervical cancer setting up and aligning with coalitions, education. He noted that has been a coalition in town for low-income women and this will pair up with that. He noted that $4,000 of the $16,000 will be subcontracted to four other counties to help them (Nelson, Griggs, Pembina and Walsh). Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve the grant agreement pending review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried.
8.
Budget amendments.
Don Shields, health department, reviewed budget amendments:
a) Families First - $1,603
Unanticipated revenue to cover expenditures during remainder of year ($1500 of funds used to replace flood damaged equipment).
b) Women's Way Program - $12,090
New grant for breast and cervical cancer screening, grant runs July 1/September 30.
c) Knight Foundation grant - $27,320
This is continuation of grant $27,320 for 1997 with increase of $20,000 for 1998 to increase immunizations levels by children in Grand Forks County.
Moved by Beyer and Sand to approve the budget amendments. Motion carried.
9. Request for change in ownership of former Griggs Landing from
Himax Corp. to Mr. B's and change in location of liquor
license from 103 North 3rd Street to 710 1st Avenue North.
Dennis Blackmun, rep. his brother Mike Blackmun, reported that there is change in corporate ownership of the license (Class 1 - General On & Off Sale Alcoholic Beverages license) from Himax Corp. to Mr. B's but no change in ownership of the corporation, and that he is requesting to relocate to the Town House at 710 1st Ave.N.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve change in corporate ownership of the license from Himax Corp. to Mr. B's pending review by the city attorney. Motion carried.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve change in location of the license from 103 North 3rd Street to 710 1st Avenue North pending approval by the city attorney. Motion carried.
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10. Matter of request to hold Grand Pasta Party on the Prairie
August 23.
Emily Buchanan, coordinator of the event, stated they have large festival planned for August 23, would like to have a Taste of North Dakota with food booths and children's activities, musical entertainment throughout the day, concert and laser light show in the evening. She noted that the event will be held on riverbank behind Lola's and Chamber of Commerce along North 3rd Street, that riverbank along that area not affected by the flood. Patty Norman, Park District, was also present. Capt. MacCarthy reported he had talked with Ms. Buchanan and this event similar to Forx Fest in previous years and have had officers at evening festivities (bands at 7:30 and 9:30) and would probably want to have 4 officers there because of bands and alcohol from 8:30 to close). Ms. Buchanan stated they will have 4 security officers and 25 National Guardsmen provided for safety. She also stated they will be charging $3.00/button, five and under free, for the event.
There was some discussion re. parking but Capt. MacCarthy stated there hasn't been problem at other events held in the downtown.
Committee asked that they coordinate closing of streets/signs with the police department.
Moved by Beyer and Sande because to provide four off-duty police officers for this event, two at no cost and two at regular special event rates. Motion carried.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to grant variance to the noise ordinance to 12:45 a.m. Motion carried.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to allow closing of ring road from DeMers Avenue to North 3rd Street, and public parking lot behind Ski & Bike Shop. Motion carried.
11.
Requests for variances to noise ordinance:
a) Phi Delta Theta, 601 Princeton St. on August 30
A rep. of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity was present, stated that "rush" starting that day, that they have band scheduled to play in parking lot from 8:00 to 11:00 p.m., will have fence around parking lot, charge at door $2-3 , and that no alcohol allowed. He stated they will also notify neighbors. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve request for variance until 11:00 p.m. Motion carried.
b) First National Bank, 2501 DeMers Ave. on August 15 and blocking of street.
There was no one present, committee had some questions re. music/band, etc. Held until 6:45 p.m. on Monday, August 4.
12. Matter of grant agreement with ND Dept. of Health and Human
Services:
a) Local Health Services grant agreement - $40,178
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b) Maternal Child Health grant agreement - $83,925
c) Federal Financial Assurance Agreement
Mr. Shields reviewed grant agreements, that grants run from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 1998, on-going programs, and that c) deals with civil rights, retention of financial records on these grants, etc. from July 1, 1997 through June 30, 1999. Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve contingent upon review and approval by the city attorney. Motion carried.
14. Request from Greater Grand Forks Jaycees to hold parade in
conjunction with Potato Bowl USA week on September 20.
Michelle Pfau, chair of the Jaycees Potato Bowl committee, and Kirk Motl, 1231 S. 23rd Street, presented request to hold parade on Saturday, September 20, 1997, starting at 10:30 a.m. Ms. Pfau stated she had talked with Capt. MacCarthy re. parade route, that East Grand Forks wants to be re-involved, that she spoke with mayors of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and Mr. Beauchamp of the EGF council, and they want parade back; that UND wants them to go to Memorial Stadium and disband at parking area.
Capt. MacCarthy expressed concern re. parade route which crosses both North 5th Street and North Washington Street, takes approx. 22 off-duty police officers and ROTC to handle route, closes off those streets for approx. one and one-half to two hours for the parade (half hour prior to clear and re-route traffic), and lose N/S access in city, becomes problem and forces E/W traffic onto Columbia Road.
There was some discussion re. choosing one route or the other - route from East Grand Forks to YMCA area; or from YMCA area to UND Memorial Stadium.
Pat Norman, 208 Conklin Avenue, suggested using the University Avenue route because of aesthetics, etc. (Comm. will work with police department re. parking issue.)
To give Jaycee reps. time to go back to their committee relative to the parade route, the public safety committee held this matter until 6:45 p.m. on Monday, Aug.4.
15.
Matter of job description for chief of police.
Dan Gordon, Human Resources, reported that this afternoon the finance committee took no action, referred to public safety to review job description and after that they would like to review it.
Mr. Gordon reported that the job description was approved by council on January 1, 1997, but since decision made to contract the position, he reviewed and if go through and change essential or marginal functions could take considerable time, and recommended changes in education and experience only; under Experience, he recommended: Ten years of increasingly responsible law enforcement
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experience in a community of 30,000 plus, including 5 years of command and management/administrative responsibilities. He stated this would change experience from 8 to 10 years and change 4 to 5 years of admin.management responsibility. He stated it was essen-tial that new chief has solid foundation of command experience.
Capt. MacCarthy presented for committee's review job ads from the March/June issues of Police Chiefs' magazine. He noted that command experience would be someone in charge of major element of department.
Mr. Gordon stated that under Training: would eliminate equivalent and would read: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in criminal justice, police administration or a related field. It was noted that most people they now hire at bottom have 4-year degree.
There was some discussion re. salary range, compensation not the only issue negotiate - benefits, moving expenses, etc. and recommended leaving range as is and then negotiate, wouldn't be restricted to that range.
Mr. Gordon also reported that Council Member Hamerlik had raised issue , he would like it to say in essential functions of job description: specifically carries out city council's actions pertaining to the Grand Forks police department. Mr. Gordon stated what supersedes that is the Home Rule Charter which demands city council actions be carried out, and wanted to bring to their attention, and not sure belongs in a job description. Committee noted that in 3. under Essential Functions: it stated that "establish, within City policy, appropriate service..." and that under Supervision Received and Exercised it states that "Receives general administrative direction from the mayor." and not sure of Mr. Hamerlik's intent. Mr. Gordon stated that the mayor has clear administrative authority and council has clear policy-making authority, two separate jurisdictions. Committee stated that Mr. Hamerlik could raise his questions on council floor.
Mr. Gordon stated that his recommendations on approval of job description would be items of experience and education (training).
Capt. MacCarthy offered ads for committee's information/review, that ads run from 10,000 population to Los Angeles. He stated he would suggested including in Training that "..master's degree would be beneficial ..and graduation from FBI Academy or equivalent would be beneficial" that basically would be Southern Police Institute, FBI Academy or Northwestern. He also suggested including salary DOE or DOQ (depending on Experience/Education or Qualifications), that in interest of attracting people, $50 better than $40.
It was noted that there is no residency requirements in Civil
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Service, but can specify that in the contract.
Mr. Gordon suggested that after Education, include in parentheses the statement - A master's degree, graduation from FBI Academy or equivalency are beneficial but not required.), and can change salary from $50,000 to $60,000. He stated he will provide new draft to committee. Committee recommended leaving salary as is, can be brought up on council floor.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to approve job description with amendments as outlined. Motion carried.
Mr. Gordon reviewed schedule/timelines for the hiring process for this position:
1) applicant profile, August 5-8;
2) recruitment packet;
3) advertisement (trade journals, newspapers, internet, etc.) August 24, 25, 26 and 31, close Sept. 15;
4) screen applicants (by September 19);
5) notify applicants by Sept. 22;
6) reference and background check by October 3;
7) October 1-14, consultant to assist HR in a) in basket situational exercise, b) written report and oral presentation, c) personnel case study, d) incident command response, e) media relations, and f) disciplinary procedures;
8) October 15, written exam and interview, (3 council members, 2 reps. of law enforcement, 1 mayor's rep. and 1 CSC member;
9) October 16-17-20, receive and document all scoring, inform candidates;
10) establish roster;
11) top three candidates (psychological assessment) and
12) mayor's interview; with appointment by mid-November.
Mr. Gordon stated he thinks it's important to have consultant to come in to assist doing the assessment - item 7), and stated could get consultant for under $5,000, funds from carry-over funds from police department or human resources. Capt. MacCarthy stated any decent candidate been through that process before, and noted that MN Hwy. Dept. brings in media to do the media portion of the assessment.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to tentatively approve the timelines. Motion carried.
Moved by Beyer and Sande to adjourn; meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
Alice Fontaine
City Clerk
Dated: 7/31/97.